---
title: "Aston Villa: Ashley Preece makes Leon Bailey claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-ashley-preece-makes-leon-bailey-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-10-12T11:15:34Z"
modified: "2021-10-12T11:15:34Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Ashley Preece makes Leon Bailey claim

**[Ashley Preece](https://twitter.com/PreeceObserver/status/1447600504448618499) is ‘expecting’ Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey to return against Wolves on Saturday.**

### The Lowdown: Bailey’s injury

The 24-year-old actually [injured](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/villa-leon-bailey-everton-matty-cash-bayer-leverkusen-b1922900.html) himself when he scored his [first](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/leistungsdaten/spieler/387626) goal for Villa following his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen. The Jamaican suffered a [thigh strain](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/september/Smith-issues-injury-updates/) against Everton and [missed](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/leistungsdaten/spieler/387626) games with Manchester United and Tottenham as a result.

Villa were [targeting](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/september/Smith-issues-injury-updates/) a return following the international break against Wolves this weekend, and Preece believes that it could be on the cards.

\[freshpress-poll id=”375413″\]

### The Latest: Preece’s tweet

Reliable reporter Preece took to Twitter on Monday evening to inform supporters of Bertrand Traore’s latest [injury](https://twitter.com/PreeceObserver/status/1447598558358691852).

He was asked by one fan for any news on Bailey, to which he [replied](https://twitter.com/preeceobserver/status/1447600504448618499?s=21): “I’m expecting him to play some part on Saturday, Smith might not want to risk him from the start. We’ll wait and see. Due a team news update later this week.”

Preece’s [post](https://twitter.com/preeceobserver/status/1447600504448618499?s=21) appeared to go under the radar, with just one retweet and four likes as of Tuesday morning.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/preece-500x229.png)

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375426″\]

### The Verdict: Good news

Even if Dean Smith doesn’t risk Bailey from the start on Saturday and places him on the bench, it will still give Villa a big boost for the game against their Midlands rivals.

Bailey has already shown what he can do off the [bench](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/villa-leon-bailey-everton-matty-cash-bayer-leverkusen-b1922900.html) at Villa Park, and another starring cameo display this weekend could make all the difference if it is a tight match.

Hopefully he will be in and around the matchday squad on Saturday, but if he isn’t fully fit, he shouldn’t be risked.

***In other news: [Smith looking to pip Arteta again as Aston Villa eye move for ace who has the same agency as Mings](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-transfer-rumours/aston-villa-weston-mckennie-rumours-resurface/)***